Liners dominant in nationals opener

Lloydminster Liners designated hitter Lauren Pollard squares up to make a bunt during the team’s 9-1 win against the Saskatoon Selects at Legion Ball Park on Monday. Jamie Harkins/Meridian Booster

The Lloydminster Liners don’t plan on being altogether gracious hosts this week.

The Liners buried the Saskatoon Selects 9-1 in both club’s opening game of the under-18 Canadian Fast Pitch Championships at Legion Ball Park on Monday afternoon.

Liners catcher Kat Bain got the team out to an early 2-0 lead with a sky-high homer to left field in the top of the first inning, before Jayden Souchotte, Lauren Pollard and Sadie Rusteika crossed home plate in the second on a pitch to the backstop, misplaced throw back to the pitcher on the same play, and a single by Tyla Lee, respectively.

“We’ve been struggling with our at bats lately, so one of the big things in our heads was to have good at bats and don’t chase pitches,” said Rusteika.

“We really executed that well, and when we did hit a pitch we barrelled it hard and it went far.”

Selects starting pitcher Kyra LeDoux battled back following the second inning, and worked a scoreless third and fourth before giving way to reliever Sarah Beatty.

Liners pitcher Jensen Chorney was on the mark from the get-go with her only blip coming off a hard hit triple to right field by Selects second baseman Jordan Kulbida that scored LeDoux in the bottom of the third inning.

“We haven’t really faced these girls very often, so seeing thather pitches are kind of different than what we hit at home definitely played a factor,” said Selects catcher Eleanor Demchenko.

“We got a little excited and anxious for runs which made us swing at first pitches, which aren’t always the greatest pitches, and then easy ground balls to short and second were the result.”

Liners centre-fielder Ally Sobus restored the five-run lead in the top of the sixth inning on a single down the middle that scored Rusteika.

Devyn Ritz hit a double to deep centre a few batters later to score Sobus and Lee, with Jayden Souchotte picking up the final RBI on a ground-rule double during the next at bat.

“It didn’t really demonstrate in this game, but our bats are our strength,” said Demchenko.

“We’re fairly smart around the bases, so once we get girls out there and we do hits behind the runners and get runners going around, it flusters the other team. So, we just got to get to that point first which didn’t happen today, but it will tomorrow.”

Rusteika said she and a few of the other players definitely had a case of the jitters playing the first game of the Canadian Fast Pitch Championships before a large and loud home crowd.

She added getting a few at bats and making that first play in the field helped to settle things down.

“When you win your first game it gives you huge confidence going into the rest of the week,” said Rusteika.

“If we would have lost, and we should have won that game, it kind of takes a toll on your confidence. But a win after the first game under our belt really boosts the confidence.”

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